Chapter 3

Cedric's 50th birthday banquet was held in the grand hall of the Mercer residence.

I didn't touch that gown. Instead, I dug out my own old clothes—an old dress—from my canvas bag. Then, I went downstairs.

The main hall was filled with guests. Dressed in a custom navy-blue gown, Lyra accompanied Cedric as he walked around to exchange toasts with the guests. She was a sweet talker, and she managed to make several of the ladies laugh.

Spotting me descend the stairs, she walked over with a champagne flute before sizing me up. "Kendra, didn't we have a new gown made for you?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was just enough for the guests nearby to hear. "Why did you wear this? Are you just not used to dressing properly, or do you simply not know how to wear it?"

The two ladies beside her exchanged a look.

Callum squeezed his way through the crowd. He glanced at the old dress I was wearing, and his expression instantly darkened. "Where's your new gown? The housekeeper said she had delivered it to your room."

"It doesn't fit."

"It doesn't fit? It was custom-made." He stared at me. "Don't you know what occasion this is? It's Dad's 50th birthday. How could you stand in the middle of the hall dressed like this? All our guests are watching!"

Lyra sighed beside him. "That's enough, Callum. Kendra probably just isn't used to these kinds of occasions—"

I spun around and headed upstairs. When I came back down, I was holding that gown in my hands.

I unfolded it in front of everyone. Under the chandelier light, the stitching along the inner skirt had been neatly unpicked. The tear started from the seam and ripped upward. With the slightest tug, it gaped open six inches wide.

"Custom-made." I tossed the gown onto the coffee table. "Care to guess who unstitched it?"

Callum gaped at the tear. His lips parted, but he couldn't find his voice.

Lyra's expression stiffened for a split second. "Kendra, this might just be—"

"This might just be my own doing?" I gazed at her. "I unstitched my brand-new gown just so I could wear my old raggy clothes to the banquet. What, am I out of my mind?"

Silence fell over the hall. Several guests clutched their wine glasses, staring at the gown on the coffee table. The tear was facing straight up.

Cedric finally turned around. He glanced at the gown and me before motioning for Harrison over. "Take the gown away."

Then, he pulled me aside and said lowly, "Stay out of sight and find a seat in the corner. Once I cut the cake, I'll send someone for you."

Having said his piece, he turned on his heel to greet a real estate tycoon. Lyra followed him, raising her wine glass.

No one paid any more mind to the gown on the coffee table. I found a corner and stood there.

Clutching a glass of red wine, a middle-aged man patted Cedric on the shoulder. "Cedric, your daughter really is something else. She carries herself well," he commented, pointing at Lyra.

Cedric's hand froze in midair, but he didn't correct him. I slowly swirled my wine glass.

Halfway through the banquet, a housekeeper rushed in and whispered something into Katherine's ear. The latter's expression shifted drastically.

"T-The watch." The housekeeper's voice trembled. "The antique watch in Ms. Lyra's room is missing. It's the one Mr. Mercer gifted her at her coming-of-age ceremony."

Lyra rose to her feet, color draining from her face. "No way… I saw it just this morning."

Harrison led a search around the house. Ultimately, the watch was found beneath my pillow.

Harrison placed the watch on the coffee table. All eyes in the grand hall pierced right through me, similar to the situation on my very first day here.

Lyra stood beside Katherine, her voice trembling. "Mom, it couldn't have been Kendra. She was probably just curious and wanted to take a look."

Callum frowned. "We have plenty of these things at home. Couldn't she have the decency to ask first?"

Cedric remained silent. Katherine appeared hesitant, as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't.

Caspian stood among the crowd, holding a glass of red wine. He took one look at the watch on the coffee table before shifting his attention to me. Then, he turned his head slightly and smiled at the male guest beside him. "Well, what did I tell you?"

A soft chuckle escaped my lips. The very next second, I set my voice recorder on the coffee table and pressed play.